----- Original Message -----

From: "iNEER" <ineer@ineer.org>

To: "ineerlist" <ineerlist@listserver.njit.edu>

Cc: <ineer@ineer.org>

Sent: Tuesday, November 25, 2003 5:26 PM

Subject: [Ineerlist] US NSF Announces Establishment of Nano-CEMMS Center

 

Dear Colleagues,
 
The U.S. National Science Foundation has announced the establishment of the
Center for Nano-Chemical-Electrical-Mechanical Manufacturing Systems
(Nano-CEMMS), "which aims to build on recent discoveries in nanotechnology
to revolutionize the nation's nanomanufacturing capabilities. Nano-CEMMS
research will target development of a path-breaking, commercial-scale
manufacturing tool that can build devices and systems at nanometer scale
(one inch contains 25.4 million nanometers)."
 
Nano-CEMMS is a collaboration between the University of Illinois at
Urbana-Champaign, the California Institute of Technology, and North Carolina
Agricultural & Technical State University (NCAT). The NSF announcement
states: "The Center's approach will build on two recent discoveries made by
members of the research team-so-called nanogate technology discovered at the
University of Illinois and new advances in microfluidics discovered at
Caltech. NCAT brings expertise in smart materials and structures to
Nano-CEMMS."
 
Among the priority areas of Nano-CEMMS is the "development of a trained
workforce capable of making the promise of nanomanufacturing approach a
reality. The Center's education efforts will reach out to K-12 students and
teachers through summer study for teachers on nanotechnology-related topics
as well as summer camps for 7th and 8th graders. Efforts to enhance
undergraduate preparation for nanotechnology careers will focus on providing
relevant research experiences, including research exchanges between the
three universities participating in Nano-CEMMS.  All of these efforts will
devote special attention to recruitment and preparation of women and other
groups that currently are underrepresented in the ranks of professional
engineers."
 
For further information, please visit:
http://www.eng.nsf.gov/engnews/2003/nanocemm.htm
 
Sincerely,
 
iNEER Secretariat
ineer@ineer.org
http://www.ineer.org